Man accused of driving into home, breaking windows with hammer, assaulting two people

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — An early morning assault at a home in Rocky Point ended in a chase and standoff early Wednesday morning.

The Pender County Sheriff’s Office said they responded to a home on Broken Spur Court in Rocky Point around 7:00 a.m. after getting word that a man was ramming his vehicle into the side of a home where eight people, including children, were inside.

Deputies said the suspect, Paul Anthony Aiello, assaulted two people inside the home before he drove into it.

Aiello also used a hammer to break all windows out of the residence and other vehicles located on the property.

When deputies arrived, Aiello stole a vehicle from the home and drove off.

Deputies pursued Aiello and stopped him on Forest Lane at NC Hwy 133 in Rocky Point.

Aiello then ran off and short standoff ensued with Aiello threatening officers with the hammer.

Deputies deployed tasers but they did not have an effect. They took Aiello into custody after they took him to the ground from behind.

Aiello had a minor facial injury and was treated and released from the hospital prior to being taken to the Pender County Jail, where he remains under a $250,000.00 secured bond.

Aiello’s charges are as follows:

• eight counts of assault with deadly weapon
• two counts of assault by strangulation
• one count of injury to real property
• one count breaking and entering motor-vehicle
• one count larceny of motor-vehicle
• one count possession stolen motor-vehicle
• one count injury to personal property
• two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with minors present
• three counts of assault with a deadly weapon on government official